Nick is the founding Chairman of the Country Education Foundation of Australia and the Boorowa Education Foundation, which he helped establish in 1993 with his wife Julia Burton Taylor. Their vision was to support young people in rural and regional areas through education.
He is a Principal of Hillgrove Pastoral, Past Vice President and Treasurer of Bush Heritage Australia, Chairman of MH Premium Farms and the Past Chairman of Delta Agribusiness. His experience includes founder and former Managing Director of Hays Personnel (Australia), Chancellor of Southern Cross University and President of Institute of Chartered Accountants. He has also served on the boards of several companies including CSR Limited, Hazelton Airlines, Federal Airports Corporation, Rural Press, Sydney Airport Corporation, Meat Research Corporation, Australian Agricultural Company, Airservices Australia and Australian Topmaking Services Limited.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1998 for services to business through the accounting profession.
Nick is committed to supporting rural communities and continues to be passionate about increasing educational opportunity for young people in rural and regional Australia.
“Young Australians growing up in regional areas are not presented with the same education and career enhancing opportunities as those born in major cities. Over the decades, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, we have helped to redress this challenge. The results are inspiring”
Peita Burton Taylor is Deputy Chair and a founding family member of the Country Education Foundation of Australia and is passionately committed to equitable access to education. Now with a young family of her own, she has a personal understanding of the importance of education and the challenges young people face in reaching their potential. Her long-standing connection to rural Australia continues to shape her values and vision for supporting young people to thrive, regardless of where they live.
Peita is the CEO of the Burton Taylor Foundation, where her work focuses on strategic, values-driven philanthropy focused on education, empowerment, and social impact. Peita has worked and volunteered locally and internationally for a range of not-for-profits.
Peita has a strong background in marketing, client engagement, and project management, having worked with global brands in the experiential marketing industry. Worked within the family agricultural business for years before decided to dedicate all her time to the Burton Taylor Foundation. She studied Floristry at the London Flower School before returning to Australia to complete a Bachelor of Arts at ANU and UNSW, followed by a Master of Management at UTS.
“There is nothing more rewarding than following a CEF recipient’s journey and seeing the impact that CEF can have both individually and generationally within their family and community. I am in awe of what these young adults are achieving and the support that is given by their committees, community, the CEF team and philanthropists”
Jono is the fresh face of the Country Education Foundation of Australia Board, having joined in the second half of 2023. However, he brings with him a wealth of CEF experience with him, having volunteered for the Country Education Foundation of Snowy Monaro as a committee member from 2005 until 2019. He also completed work for CEF during his time as an accountant and Director at Boyce Chartered Accountants, who have been a longstanding partner and service provider for CEF.
Originally from Mount Pleasant, South Australia, he has called the Snowy Monaro region of NSW home since 1996. His career started in agriculture, but after graduating from university, he spent 27 years working as an accountant. He has recently returned to the agriculture sector, working as the General Manager for Mulloon Consulting, an organisation that focuses on landscape rehydration. His accounting qualifications include BBus (AgComm); GradDipCA.
Jono also volunteers as Treasurer for the Monaro Family Support Service and the Institute of Ecological Agriculture and has been a board member of various other industry and for-purpose organisations.
He is passionate about helping young people in regional areas with their pursuits for further education and furthering their careers and believes the work of CEF can help put them on the same playing field as their metropolitan counterparts.
“The commitment of a regional community to supporting its people is what CEF signifies to
me. I've seen it work first-hand over almost 20 years in my local community and helps young people seek opportunities that their metropolitan counterparts take for granted. The local foundations also benefit tremendously with support from the national organisation.”
Dougal was a Principal of Foulsham & Geddes, Solicitors, from 1982 to 2015 and he continues to be an Executive Lawyer and Consultant to the firm. He has been practicing law since 1978 and has vast experience in a large variety of legal matters.
He has previously been a member of several Law Society of New South Wales Committees (including the Ethics Committee, Practice & Conduct Committee and the Succession & Elder Law Committee).
Dougal is currently involved with a range of youth mentoring programs including being a Mentor for the Raise Foundation, Youth Off the Streets and Police and Community Youth Clubs employees.
“We are told that ‘money can’t buy you love or happiness’, but money can buy education, and education can deliver EVERYTHING. Education is THE most powerful man-made natural resource”
Hugh brings a deep, personal connection to the Country Education Foundation’s vision and mission as the son of the co-founders, Nick and Julia Burton Taylor. Raised in Boorowa, NSW, Hugh has seen first hand the challenges faced by young people in regional communities when accessing further education. His experience fuels his passion for empowering regional youth through opportunity and support.
Hugh’s professional experience includes working for leading financial institutions including JP Morgan, Greig & Harrison, and UBS, where he built a strong foundation in equities and investment strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture Economics, majoring in Economics & Agricultural Economics from The University of Sydney and a Diploma of Financial Planning.
He is currently a Partner and Investment Advisor at Crestone LGT.
Hugh’s blend of financial acumen and regional insight makes him a valuable advocate for the foundation’s vision of equitable access to education for rural and regional youth.
A long-serving volunteer and Chair of CEF Boorowa, Justin brings a wealth of experience, deep commitment to community, and a passion for supporting rural and regional youth.
Originally from Cooma, Justin relocated to Boorowa in 2005. For over twelve years, Justin has dedicated himself to CEF’s mission, serving as Chair of CEF Boorowa and spearheading impactful initiatives such as the renowned Pig Push in 2017 and 2018. These events raised more than $110,000 for CEF and elevated the organisation’s national profile.
As a licensed Real Estate Agent, Stock and Station Agent, and Auctioneer, he leads Flemings Property Services; a real estate agency in Southern NSW. Under his leadership, the business has grown to five offices across Boorowa, Harden, Cootamundra, Young and Cowra, employing 28 people across the region.
Justin’s decision to join the CEF Board stems from his first-hand experience with CEF’s transformative work – not only in Boorowa but in communities across Australia.
“From witnessing the impact CEF has locally and connecting with volunteers from other regions, I truly believe in the significant change this organisation delivers. I look forward to contributing my experience and insights to help shape CEF’s strategic direction and deepen its impact across rural and regional Australia.”
Julia is a founding member of the Country Education Foundation of Australia and an active committee member of CEF Boorowa. She worked with her husband, Nick Burton Taylor and members from the local community to help establish CEF. They saw the disparity of educational opportunity in rural and regional areas and wanted to help young people pursue further education. Julia is also part of the Management Committee for Hillgrove Pastoral.
In 2015, Julia was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to youth in rural and remote areas and to the not-for-profit sector. She continues to work as an education advocate and is passionate about empowering people through education.
“I have watched firsthand the power of local small communities reaching out to the next generation and helping them achieve a pathway to a career through further education”
Katie was a Founding Director on the CEF Board since 2003 and a founder of the Country Education Foundation of Yass Valley. Katie officially retired from the Board at the AGM in May 2024, but continues to support regional youth as the Secretary of CEF Yass Valley.
She was honoured for her longstanding service to education and the community on Australia Day in 2024, with her inclusion on the Honours List and an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
“Volunteers and local committees are the heart and soul of CEF. Our growth would not have been possible without their enthusiasm and dedication to inspiring students, communities, and each other.”
David is the Director of the James N Kirby Foundation. He is also a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David was previously the Chairman of PwC Australia, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, a Director of Rabobank Australia and New Zealand and a Director of Genea Ltd.
This experience is greatly valued by CEF as he contributes to ensuring the sound financial position of the Foundation in his role as Treasurer.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1998 for his service to the community through the National Heart Foundation, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Bid as a member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance Commission.
“Education gives self-respect to those who acquire it. By supporting education, I believe the effect will be multiplied many times over”
